Device for preventing the splitting or timber.



No. 793,431. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905.

J. FLEISGHER.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SPLITTING 0F TIMBER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 21, 1904.

WITNESSES: QBSVEHTOR UNITED STATES Patented June 2'7, 1905.

PATENT Trice.

JULIUS FLEISOHER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THEODORE STEIN & CO, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, A PARTNERSHIP UNDER THE LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE SPLITTING OF TIMBER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,431, dated J line 27, 1905.

Application filed October 21, I904. Serial No. 229,456.

To mil whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUs FLEISOHER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invent- 5 ed a new and useful Improvement in Devices to Prevent the Splitting of Timber; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to devices for preventing the splitting of timber, lumber, and wood of various kinds.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple and cheap of construction, which can be readily applied to the timber, and which will efficiently hold the same against splitting in any direction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the end of a timber partly broken away, showing my device applied thereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the two members of my device. Fig. 4 is a bottom edge view of one of the members; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion 5 of one member on an enlarged scale, showing the condition of the holding-prongs after insertion in the timber.

My device is intended to be driven into the end of the timber, and it comprises two members 1 and 2, arranged at an angle to each other, preferably a right angle, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to hold the timber from splitting in any direction. These members are made of sheet or plate metal, provided on one edge 55 with a series of holding teeth or prongs 3, which preferably are sharpened at their ends, so as to more easily enter the wood; but this is not necessary. These prongs are disposed at slight angles to the bodies of the members,

4. preferably by giving them a slight twist, as

indicated in the drawings. When the members are driven into the wood, the spiral shape of the prongs will tend to still further twist the same, so that when fully seated in the timher these prongs will be at a decided angle to the bodies of the members, as shown in Fig. 5, thus presenting broad surfaces to the wood in the direction in which it would have to move in order to split. In order that these members may be easily assembled at an inter- 5 secting angle, they are provided the one with a notch 5 on the upper edge of its body and the other with a notch 6 on the lower edge of its body, so that the two members can be placed in the intersecting position shown in Fig. 1. These notches are suHiciently wide so that the members can be disposed to each other at various angles other than a right angle.

The two members can be quickly and cheaply made by stamping the same out of sheet metal. The dies which stamp the same out may also be made to give the spiral or oblique form to the holding-prongs 3. When so stamped out, the members can be easily shipped and assembled at the place of use. Two such members will be driven into the end of the timber in the intersecting position in Fig. 1. Preferably they will be driven in until the upper edges thereof are flush with the end of the 7 timber. The resistance of the wood against the prongs 3 when being driven into the timber will further twist said prongs, so as to stand at a greater angle to the body of the members, as shown in Fig. 5. These members therefore will present to the timber broad. holding-surfaces and on two lines practically at right angles to each other, so as to efiiciently hold the timber against splittingin any direction.

What I claim is- I. A device of the character specified comprising two metallic members each provided with a plurality of holding-prongs on one edge, said members being constructed to be placed 5 at an angle to one another and intersecting.

2. A device of the character specified comprising two metallic members each provided with a plurality of holding-prongs on one edge, and one thereof being notched on one edge and 9 the other on the other edge, whereby they can be placed at an angle to one another and intersecting.

3. A device of the character specified comprising two metallic members formed of sheet metal and each provided on one edge with a sheet or plate metal and the prongs being disposed on a spiral with-reference to the body, whereby when said members are driven into the wood said prongs will be twisted at a greater angle to the bodies thereof.

In testimony whereof I, the said JULIUS FLEISOHER, have hereunto set my hand.

JULIUS FLEISCHER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT C. TOTTEN, G. (J. RAYMOND. 

